Machine for filling containers



` c. H. CLARK MAGHIN FORv FILLING CONTAINERS Aug. 15, 1944.

`*r sheets-smet 1 `Fi1edAug. 20,. 1942 INVENTOIL C/,wz f5 H.; Y ,4P/r HY l Z y Aug. 15, 1944. c. H. CLARK 2,355,848

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20,y 1942 7 sheets-sheet 2 jjjiii 'Y f7 65 -f Y ieg' Q l/MMQUMA l1g- 15, 1944- H. CLARK 2,355,848

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 y L L m /5 l L 2/ K HIHHIHHIIIHHuwm,...In., 11

mgm/Mdm ATTURNEY Aug. 15, 1944.

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 2o, -1 942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 UUWH i y i@ L INVENTOR C44/WAS 4/f,

ATTGRNEY Aug. 15, 1944. c. H. CLARK 2,355,848

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR i BY. AJM/ww ug- 15, 1944 c. H. CLARK MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVNTOR ATTORNEY Allg- 15, 1944- c. H. CLARK 2,355,848

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 20, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 I V'. d

"r' 25 2 il /8 INVENTOR TTORNE Y Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED MACHINE Fon FILLING CONTAINERS Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,525

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally'to a machine for lling containers with plastic or jelly-like substances, and is particularly concerned with a device for loading blasting gelatine or explosive material of a jelly-like consistency into cartridges or other containers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide'a machine of the above type for general application, of simple construction, as vnearly automatic in operation as possible and which will handle a number of filling operations at one time, while each container or cartridge is not only independently filled, but the mechanism is so arranged that in case of failure to fill any particular cartridge, the machine will proceed to fill the remaining cartridges.

Another important object is to provide a machine of the type described which will be positive in operation and to obtain any ldesired degree of compression of the plastic or gelatinous load in the shells being filled.

Still another object of the invention is to arrange the parts in such manner that the containers or cartridges will be completely filled with the gelatinous explosive without causing a Jamming or stoppage in the feed mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To this end the invention contemplates a hopper for receiving the gelatinous explosive or other material to be fed into cartridges or containers, provided with a series of feed screws, projecting downwardly therefrom so that a number of containers may be lled simultaneously. Each feed screw is located within a feedtube, the screw or feeding mechanism extending substantially to the bottom of such tube.

A table is provided beneath the feeding tubes adapted to receive a holder containing a plurality of empty cartridges or containers to be filled. Mechanism is provided for raising the tinues, the container is forced downwardly oil of the tube and against the tension device, the latter being chosen. so as to obtain the desired degrec of compactness. When the tube is lilled to the desired extent the feeding mechanism `s automatically stopped, the table lowered to apoint sufficient to permit the ,filled containers to be removed. empty containers replaced in the holder and the operation repeated.

Suitable mechanism is provided whereby the operator maymanually control the operation of the machine so as to stop it at any point in case of failure to properly function. The mechanism is so arranged that in case of defective fillingr of any container, not only does this not interfere with the continuous filling of the remainder of the containers, but thatv one or ones partially or wholly filled may be removed without disturbing the remaining operation. v

The invention further consists in the novel arrangement, combination and construction of parts more fully hereinafter described as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, in cartridge loading position.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine in'Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a similarview, showing the loading table in lowered position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device of Fig. 3, showing the manner of placing a cartridge holder filled with empty cartridges in filling position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 at the start of the filling operation.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in position wherein a cartridge is partially filled.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation along the line 1--1 of Fig. 2, showing the hopper and feed mechanism with a completely filled cartridge in place.

Fig. B is a vertical, sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal, sectional view along the line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a device embodying the present invention showing its means of operation, the parts being in substantially the position shown in Figs. l and 2.

Referring now with particularity to the embo'diment illustrated, a framework is shown vto consist of uprights l with cross members 2 adapted to support the mechanism.

A hopper is shown at 3 having a restrictedl lower area terminating in a casting carrying a rubber or other non-sparking bushing 5, the latter being held in place by plate 6 secured -in 'To the plate 6 is secured a feed tube 1. By providing other plates with different sized feed tubes,

cartridges or containers of any desired size mayA be nlled by using the same mechanism.

Inasmuch as one of the objects of the invention is to provide fora plurality of individual feeds from 'a single I opper, a number of feed mechanisms are provi d as shown in. Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 7, each of the feed devices includes a feed shaft 8 provided with a plurality of `stlrrfng fins 9 inside the hopper and a feed helixr I8 located at the restricted bottom area vof the hopper. Detachably secured to the bottom of yshaft.. and beneath the helix I8 is a feedsc'rew II extending to the bottom f feed tube 'l and slightly spaced from the ,interior periphery thereof so as to eliminate friction, and yet close Aenough to insure extrusion and outward movement of the filling material being moved therethrough.

Where other sized cartridges or containers are to be filled, different sized feed screws II may be used, with corresponding bushings'l and feed tubes 1.

The feed shaft 8 is suitably mounted ina bearing I2, fastened to a cross member 2 and provided with a collar I3 to prevent downward movement. The upper portion of the shaft carries a driven pulley I4. The upper end of the shaft is mounted in a Journal I5 fixed to` the'v` upper cross member 2. v

The drive mechanism for the feed shaft and associated parts (Fig.` 1) includes a driven shaft I6 rotated by any suitable prime mover, lthe shaft I6 through a pair of beveled gears I1 causing 1 constant rotation of a vertical shaft I8 (Fig. 10). vClutch mechanisms, of which one is indicated generally at I9, are of any standard design and carry drive pulley 28 connected to driven pulley Il by means of belt or cable 2I.

Mounted on the vertically rotating shaft I8 is a sleeve 22 which, when moved upwardly, causes the clutch I9 to engage and pulley 28 to rotate. v

Suitably fulcrumed on an intermediate cross member 2 (Fig. 1) is a clutch-operating lever 23, having a member 24 (Fig. 10) engaging the bottom of movable sleeve 22. That part ofy the clutch-'operating lever on the side of member 24 away from the fulcrum is of sufficient extent to tend to occupy the lower position as shown in Fig. 10, and thus permit the sleeve 22,to drop and occupy a. clutch-disengaging position. A stationery cross bar 25 supports the clutch-operating lever in the clutch disengagingV position (Fig. '1)

The clutch-operating lever may be raised into a clutchsengaging position (Figs. l and 10) by' means of a crank arm 26, having a starting lever 21 which, through connecting rod 28, moves crank 29 and arm 3U, which raises connector 3| and elevator bar 32. The starting lever 21 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure l until the elevator bar has raised all of the clutch-operating levers to the point where the ends thereof will engage and rest upon the seat of each dog 33. At this point the clutches are in engagement, and consequently feed shafts 8 will rotate. v

Rotation of all feed shafts 8 may be stopped by stepping upon foot pedal 34'(Figs. 1 and 10) carried by a lever 35, attached to a shaft 36. 'I'his shaft also has `affixed thereto a quadrant `element 31. Attached to the bottom of the quadrant is a cable 38, the upper end of which is secured to a pull-down bar 39. `Through this bar pass cartridge elevators 48, the bar resting upon the enlarged and bifurcated ends 4I of the cartridge elevators. A pin 42 connects bifurcated end 4I of the carriage elevator with acartridge elevator lever 43. fulcrumed at 44 between a pair of spacing collars 44a and weighted as at 45.

Passing through a slot 46 (Figs. 4 and 10) lin cartridge elevator lever 43 is a connecting rod 41 connected to a cable 48 which passes over a pulley 49 and is adjustably secured to the weighted end 58 of a bell crank 5I held between collars 5Ia in a carrying shaft. One arm of the bell crank carries the dog 33 adapted to engage the end of the clutch-operating lever 23.

The connecting rod 41 (Figs. 4 and 10) has mounted thereon a stop 52 which bears against the bottom of the cartridge-elevating lever 43 so that when the pull-down bar 39 reaches a certain low position, the cartridge elevator 43 will engage the stop 52 and through the described train of mechanism move dog 33 in a clock-wise direction. This releases the end of the clutch-operating lever 23, permits the same to fall and the clutchto disengage. The feed screw then stops rotating. Stop 52a.and lock nuts 52h limit -upward movement of rod 41.

In order to place a bank of cartridges or containers in the position to be filled, reference is made to Figs. 3 and 4. 'I'here a holder is indicated at 53 comprising a block ofgwood or the like having a hinged front position 54 so arranged that when the parts are inclosed position they provide a series of cylindrical recesses 55, each of which is adapted to take a cartridge or container. The main portion 53 of the holder is provided with a base 56 also having cylindrical recesses 51 but of a diameter slightly less than that of recesses 55, for a purpose more fully described hereinafter. A series of empty cartridges or container 6I having been placed in the holder, the front portion 54 is closed and locked in place by any suitable means, and then the holder placed on the rcartridge, holder elevating ltable 58. 'I'his element is provided with van upstanding back portion 59 so that the cartridge holder is adequately supported thereby.

Cartridge elevator rIII extends upwardly through the main portion of the cartridge holder elevating table 58 and terminates in a head 68 which snugly fits the recess 51 in the main portion of the cartridge holder 53 but bears against the' bottom of a cartridge 6I. Thus downward movement of one cartridge elevator causes head 68 to engage the elevator table 58 and pull the same downwardly therewith. The head 60 is removable and may be replaced by a larger member in the event larger cartridges are to be filled. The table 58 is provided with reduced ends 62 which slide Within slots 63 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7) in the uprights I, as is also thecase with the carcient extent to permit the tops of the cartridges to clear the bottoms of the feed tubes ping on the foot pedal 34. This action 1 by stepresults by reason of the fact that movement of the foot pedal 34 in a downward direction causes rotation of shaft 36 and a downward pull on cable 38 attached to the pull-down bar 39. Downward movement of the bar 39 engages the bifurcated end 4| of the cartridge elevator 4D, and the head of the latter engages the table 58 and pulls it down. As soon, therefore, as the bank of cartridges is in place, the foot pedal 34 is released whereupon the weight 66 attached to the table 58 pulls it upwardly until the table comes to rest against the stop B1. In this position the cartridges have telescopically engaged the feed tubes 1, the ends of the latter being substantially at the bottom of the empty cartridges (Figs. 2 and 10).

The hopper having been supplied with material to be lled into the cartridges the starting lever 21 is oscillated in a clock-wise direction, which through the described chain of mechanism raises the elevator bar 32 which moves the entire series of clutch-operating levers 23 into the upper position, and thereby moves the corresponding sleeves 22 into clutch-operating position. This action causes rotation of the various feed shafts 8 and consequent feeding of the gelatinous material into the individual cartridges.

As the feed continues, and the material is extruded into the cartridges, they are forced down- `wardly (Fig. 6) and back into the holder against the head of the cartridge elevator and against the action of weight 45. This action continues until each cartridge is full. .At this point the cartridge elevator will be at its lowest position, and in this position will trip the dogs 33 holding the clutch-operating levers 23 in operative position, by a slight pull down on connecting rod 41. As soon as the clutch-operating levers 23 are released they iall by their own weight, thus disengaging the clutches and stopping the feeding mechanism. The foot lever 34 is then depressed to further lower the table 58 and the cartridge holder until the tops of the cartridges have cleared the bottom of the feed tube and the cartridge removed. The parts are now in the position of Figs. 3 and 4. The full cartridges are then replaced with empty ones and the operation repeated.,

It is to be noted that inasmuch as each feeding mechanism has its own clutch and drive pulley, that in the event that if for any reason one feed device operates a little bit slower than the rest, litwill continue to rotate through continued engagement of its clutch mechanism after the others have stopped, for all clutches remain engaged until their particular cartridge elevator reaches its lower-most position, that is, a clutchdisengaging position. Consequently all an operator has to do is to observe that all driving pulleys have ceased to rotate, which indicates to him that all cartridges are full".

What is claimed is:

l. A cartridge-filling mechanism-comprising a feed tube, a cartridge holder adapted to contain a cartridge, means for elevating the cartridge holder so that when a cartridge is held therein, the top of the latter will fit over the end portion of the feed tube, means adapted to elevate a cartridge from the holder onto the feed tube and means to feed material through the tube intothe cartridge, whereby during the feeding the cartridge is moved 01T of the tube and back into the cartridge holder.

2. Ihe device of claim 1 with means for lowering the cartridge holder a sufficient amount so that a filled cartridge therein clears the bottom of the feed tube.

3. The device of claim 1 with means for lowering the cartridge holder a sufficient amount so that a lled cartridge therein clears the bottom of the feed tube, said cartridge holder lowering means being operatively connected to a. clutch that a filled cartridge therein clears the bottomof the feed tube-and means to return the cartridge-holder to its initial position.

CHARLES H. CLARK. 

